Friday’s News & Notes

Syracuse 5 Norfolk 3
• Tatusko (W, 5-5) 5⅓ IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K, HR, 2WP
• Stange (H, 2) 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, K, 2-0 IR-S
• Walters 2-4, R, HR, RBI
• Peterson 1-3, BB
• Souza 2-4, R

The Chiefs put up four in the first and rode out the Tide for a 5-3 win in the first of eight straight against Norfolk. Ryan Tatusko evened up his won-loss record at 5-5 with three runs allowed on eight hits and two walks over five and a third, though he did give up a home run for the third straight start. The Syracuse ‘pen combined for three and 2/3rds scoreless, with Daniel Stange and Manny Delcarmen earning hold and Warner Madrigal picking up the save. Eight of nine Chiefs hit safely, as Syracuse racked up 12 hits with Zach Walters, Tyler Moore, Steve Souza, and Jhonatan Solano each going 2-for-4. Roster move: LHP Mike Gonzalez activated from the TIL.

Harrisburg 9 Erie 6
• Cole (W, 6-2) 5IP, 7H, 5R, 3ER, 2BB, K
• Martin (H, 1) 3IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Ramsey 3-4, 3R, 2B, BB
• Skole 2-4, HR, BB, 3RBI, E(7)
• Taylor 2-3, 2R, HR, BB, RBI

With a 9-6 win, the Senators extended their win streak to five and swept an opponent on the road for the first time this season. Staff ace A.J. Cole was knocked around for five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks over five innings but got the Jack Morris win, his 6th of the season. Matt Skole homered again, smacking a three-run bomb in the top of the 9th for his third big fly in the last eight games and sixth overall. Michael Taylor hit HR #16 while Caleb Ramsey notched another three-hit game and drew walk to lead the 14-hit attack. Roster move: RHP Brian Dupra reassigned from Syracuse.

Potomac 3 Winston-Salem 2
• G. Gonzalez 4IP, 2H, R, ER, 4BB, 7K
• Mendez (W, 3-3) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 2-0 IR-S
• Benincasa (SV, 11) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Tejeda 2-4, R, HR, RBI
• Oduber 2-3, R, 3B

With a 3-2 victory over Winston-Salem, Potomac clinched the Carolina League’s Northern Division first half title in back-to-back seasons for the first time as a Nationals affiliate. Gio Gonzalez made his second rehab outing, pitching four innings with one run allowed on two hits and four walks. He struck out seven, including the side in the 4th. Jeff Kobernus, also on rehab, walked with one out, stole 2nd and 3rd, and came in to score when the catcher overthrew third base. It would be prove to be the gamewinner when the P-Nats reloaded the bases on a walk and two singles only to have the insurance canceled with a 3-2-4 double play to end the inning. Gilberto Mendez got the win with three outs and two runners stranded in the 8th while Robert Benincasa mowed ’em down in order with a pair of K’s and a flyout for his 11th save.

Greenville vs. Hagerstown — PPD
The afternoon rains were too much for the field to absorb, forcing a postponement and creating a doubleheader for Friday night against Greenville. The Suns’ magic number is stuck at two as the Grashoppers refuse to lose, taking their seventh straight decision with a 5-2 win over the Intimidators.

Auburn Doubledays — Opening Day
With more than a dozen players from the 2013 GCL Nationals, there will be high expectations for the 2014 Auburn Doubledays, writes Jeremy Houghtaling of the Auburn Citizen, who wrote a [ship]load of stories this week about the Doubledays; you can follow him on Twitter here. An official roster unveiling is unlikely this year, thanks to the NYPL starting up a week earlier than in years past.

DSL Nationals 8 DSL Mets1 5
• Baez 6IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 4K
• Agustin 4-5, 2R, 2-2B, RBI
• Vilorio 3-4, R, 2B, RBI
• G. Ramirez 2-2, R, 3B, HR, BB, 2RBI

Joan Baez showed no rust on the diamond as he walked one and let up just two hits over six innings to earn his first win as the D-Nats outslugged the D-Mets1 squad, 8-5. Telmito Agustin continues to swing a hot bat, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Luis Vilorio followed him in the hit column with a 3-for-4 game, including a double and an RBI. Gilberto Ramirez piled up the most total bases with a triple and a home run.